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Candidates for teachers union president sound off on reforms, school violence
BALTIMORE -
Student attacks on teachers and city schools chief Andres Alonso’s sweeping reform efforts defined this year in Baltimore City schools. Alonso gave principals the power to craft their own school budgets so they can decide which programs and textbooks to use. Responding to questions from The Examiner, the four candidates in today’s election for Baltimore Teachers Union president offer their reactions to Alonso’s reforms and their solutions to quell school violence. Blake is the former union president and social studies teacher at the Institute of Business and Entrepreneurship. On school-based budgets: “The jury is still out. School-based budgeting has been done before, so we’ll see whether it’s effective.” On violence: “We need to provide wireless devices to every teacher so they can alert school security during emergencies.” Gwin is a math teacher at Northwestern High School. On school-based budgets: “All principals do not have financial backgrounds. All cannot control money the way it needs to be controlled, so some will go along with what their buddies say.” On violence: “We need to see that principals do everything possible to keep students in class and out of the hall. If a student attacks a teacher, remove the principal, then the student and then the teacher.” Krehnbrink is a resource teacher at Collington Square Elementary/Middle School. On school-based budgets: “It sounds good as long as the actions meet the words.” On violence: “We need to change some privacy laws, because they get in the way of good teaching. We don’t know how we could adjust to teach in a more pointed way, because we don’t know about students’ health problems, previous scrapes with the law, who’s on probation and who has a problem with anger.” Marietta English English is the four-term incumbent president. On school-based budgets: “We’re hearing that not one principal has enough money to carry out one program they want, so we’re watching very carefully.” On violence: “We’ve been coming together for a safety task force.” kvolkmann@baltimoreexaminer.com |